This month, Mental Equipment targets tennis players wherever they may
be with an important and
straightforward message: tennis lessons are worth your every dime!
........First, thanks to the hundreds who wrote back regarding their
favorite articles and topics they would like seen addressed in the
future. Your feedback is vital to allowing Mental Equipment to serve
your individual needs. Let's keep the communication flowing!
Don't Just Spin Your Wheels
If you do not take lessons or have a regular coach, you may be
establishing faulty technique quite
effectively. I see players of all levels fail to progress year to
year either because they do not understand
their weaknesses, or know their limitations but cannot make necessary
changes! The saying "practice makes perfect" is quite misleading.
Actually, practice makes permanent. Only perfect practice makes
perfect! This applies to other sports and professions as well.
Ongoing evaluation with "accurate" information is mandatory in any
competitive quest. To ensure improvement and satisfaction in the
challenging and technically demanding sport of tennis, there is just
no substitute for lessons.
Find A Good Pro
Tennis professionals come in all shapes and sizes. Find one who
knows the game well, communicates
this knowledge effectively, and keeps up with the latest developments.
Also check their professional
certifications. The best pros are certified by a major tennis
teaching organization such as the USPTA or
USPTR, or an associated organization if outside the United States.
Trust that your pro knows what is best for your game, but don't just
sit back and take the spoon. Read
about the game, attend camps and seminars, play tournaments, and
bring your knowledge back to
your lessons. Dare your mentor to come up with a better mousetrap
for you and challenge yourself by
asking good questions and keeping notes. I'm sure your pro will
enjoy your lust for the game!
Should you take private or group lessons? Group lessons are
typically less expensive and offer the social
advantage of finding partners with a similar goal. Private
instruction costs a little more (ask if there is a
discount for a series of lessons) but intense and focused attention
gets to the heart of the matter quickly.
Share This Message
On court instruction is vital for improvement in tennis. Sport
Psychology tips complement this instruction
and help supercharge performance. Regular tennis lessons combined
with Sport Psychology will keep you from from spinning your wheels
and put you one step above the crowd. However, no message is any
good if it falls on deaf ears.
I recommend the following:
- Tennis Pros:
Post this article on your bulletin board or somewhere
near the courts so that all members view it. Also make copies and
mail to your members as a bonus to help them discover the Mental
Equipment archive at:http://www.tennissserver.com/mental-equipment/
- Players:
Mail or hand deliver this article to your pro or coach
and suggest that they follow through on the above advice. You can
bet that your pro will appreciate your efforts in helping them
generate more tennis activity! Everybody prospers.
Let's all get in this great game! See you next month...
